Telephone equipment.



W. M. HARALSON & J. F. PILKINGTON.

TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE e, 1913.

1,100,480, PatentedJune 16, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAJOR HARALSON AND JOHN F. PILKINGION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

TELEPIIONE EQUIPMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914. 1

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, -WILLIAM MAJOR HARALSON and JOHN F. PILKINGTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telephone Equipments, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in telephone equipment, and more particularly to that class of telephone instruments operated on automatic systems.

The objectof our invention is to provide a light at a convenient point above the dial used in operating an automatic telephone, to illuminate said dial, that it may be used in the dark.

A further object of our invention is to provide such mechanical expediences as are required to permit said light to burn only while the telephone is being used. And a final object of our. invention is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple, strong, durable and eflicient, and :5 one which will be comparatively easy to operate or attach to any instrument.

With these and other objects in view our invention has relation'to certain new and novel features of operation and construc- :0 tion, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described in the following specification.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation and, Fig. 3

85 is a diagramatical view with a portion of the dial in sections.

Similar numerals refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views.

Numeral 1 designates a telephone of ordinary construction, having a base 2 which supports the operating mechanism and dial 3, used for establishing connectlon over automatic systems. An insulating washer 4 of hard rubber or other suitable material is 46 securely fastened to the dial 3 and arranged to be revolved with the dial. A receptacle 5 supported on the washer 4-is adapted to hold a miniature lamp 6. This lamp registers with the dial to establish one side of a circuit. The other side of the circuit is normally open byvirtue of a key 7 operated by the receiver hook 8. A brush 9 registering on the periphery of the receptale 5 is insulated from the base 2 by a washer 10, and 155 performs a double duty of completing the local circuit above mentioned and acts as a finger stop in the manipulation of the dial to secure proper connection over automatic systems. Upon. removing the receiver 11 from the hook 8 a spring 12 will'close key 7 which in turn closes the local circuit aforesaid and lights-the lamp 6.- It is obvious that with the lamp burning the dial may be revolved by anoperator to secure his con nection much-faster than is ordinarily the case in dark places since the figures and numerals which are displayed on the plate 14 W111 be illuminated. Since the receptacle 5 and the brush 9 are designed to register at all points the lamp will not be extinguished by revolving'the dial. A guard 15 is provided to protect the lamp from accidental mechanical injury. A suitable local battery may be used to light the lamp, but it has been found preferable to abandon such battery where central energy plants are used.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a telephone instrument having an automatic calling device thereon, of a receptacle mounted on the dial of said calling device, and insulated ther from, a lamp engaging with the dial and the receptacle, and a brush supported and insulated from the base adapted-t0 engage with the receptacle, and means for establishing a circuit through the lamp.

2. In a device of the character described, a telephone instrument of the automatic type having a dial supported on its base adapted to be revolved to establish connections, a lamp supported by the dial and arranged to illumlnate the face of the dial, means for establishing electrical connection between the lamp and the instrument, and means for breaking said electrical connection.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a telephone instrument of the automatic type having a dial supported on its base, adapted to-be revolved to establish vconnections, of a receptacle carried by said dial and insulated therefrom, a lamp supported by the receptacle and engaging with the dial, a brush insulated from the base and secured thereon, adapted to engage with the receptacle, a key arranged to be operated by the receiver hook, and means for connecting the brush, key and dial electrically, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a telephone instrument of the automatic type having a dialsupported on itsbase, adapted to be revolved to establish connections, of a receptacle carried by said dial and insulated therefrom, a lamp supported b the receptacle and engaging with the dia a brush insulated from the base and secured thereon, adapted to engage with the receptacle, a key arranged to be operated by the receiver hook, to open and close the circuit through the lamp, and a guard supported by the dial arranged to protect the lamp.

5. In a telephone attachment, comprising a lamp adapted to illuminate a dial, a receptacle supported by the dial adapted to secure the lamp aforesaid, a brush engagin with the receptacle at one end and insulate from the base of a telephone set from which it is supported, and a key for opening and closing the light circuit arranged to be operated by a receiver hook which forms a' part of the usual telephone set.

6. In a telephone attachment, the combination with a lamp adapted to illuminate a dial, of a receptacle supported by the dial arranged to secure the lamp, means for insulating the receptacle from the dial, and means for electrically connecting the receptacle with the telephone while the dial is be- 111g revolved.

7 2 In a telephone attachment, the combination with a telephone instrument of the automatic type having a dial supported on its base adapted to be revolved in the operation of calling numbers, of a lamp supported above said dial and fixed to revolve with the same, and means for establishin electrical connection between the lamp and the instrument while the dial is being revolved.

8. In a telephone attachment, the combination with a telephone instrument of the automatic type having a dial supported on its base adapted to be revolved in the operation of calling numbers, of a lamp supported above said dial and fixed to revolve with the same, and means for insulating one pole of the lamp from the dial, and a brush insulated from the base adapted to connect with the other pole of the lamp.

WILLIAM MAJOR HARALSON. JOHN F. PILKINGTON.

Witnesses:

R. E. ToMLINsoN, W. W; TRICKEY. 

